Matthew Tinling, 25, knifed former soldier Richard Hamilton 21 times in the head, neck and legs at a hostel for the homeless in Shirland Road, Maida Vale, the Old Bailey heard.

He used the 45-year-old victim’s cash card to withdraw £240 to spend on crack cocaine. Detectives believe Mr Hamilton was attacked at 2am on March 28. Mr Hamilton’s body lay undiscovered for two weeks before the alarm was raised, but CCTV footage of twitching bedroom curtains, together with DNA evidence on the curtains and a credit card holder, led a jury to convict Tinling of murder today.

CCTV also captured Tinling leaving the building hours later to dump several plastic bags in bins.

“Where to go for a drink near Great Portland Street?” was previously met with blank expressions and shrugs for those local to the area, not anymore, thanks to the opening of The Refinery at Regent’s Place, the eighth bar and restaurant from hugely-successful group Drake & Morgan.